The Superb Angie Batis Durrant
The serial entrepreneur with a healthy appetite for life
If you and any of your friends have ever said, "Dude, we should totally open a bar," you'll want to read on and meet a woman who actually did it, opening a coffee spot with her friends in a closed down laundromat. Otherwise Angie Batis Durrant has a nice collection of Loeries, Gold Cannes Lions and D&AD Pencils from her 10 years in the advertising industry. Then she also blogs as: Lucky Pony, Tiny Pony, Jo Best and has started a new content creation agency, Golden.
What’s the next thing you’d like to tick off your bucket list?
I really want to go to Santorini and invent an app that will make me instant best friends with Kim and Kanye.
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Definitely a night owl. I'm not one of those people who whistle through the house and squeeze fresh orange juice for everyone. That's what a morning person does right?
What are the top 10 things on your Wishlist?
How did you start doing what you do?
This is a tough question, but it all started when the laundromat opposite our block of flats closed down and myself, my husband and our friend, all who had ZERO restaurant experience thought it would be an awesome idea to open a coffee shop, somewhere where we could all hang out with our friends. Imagine if we had gone to the bank with that business plan.
What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs wanting to start a business?
It definitely isn't an easy thing to do, but if it's something that you're passionate about then nothing should stop you, because you can dream all you like about what could possibly be, but unless you make things happen that's all it's ever going to be, a dream.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Have children.
What would you do with a R100 000 investment?
I'd invest it and wait for it to grow a bit before perhaps using it as capital to turn another old laundromat into something amazing.
Name the talent you’d most like to have.
I wish I could sew. I'd make matching outfits for Shane, Nina James and myself all the time. On a side note Shane would probably divorce me if I did, so luckily I suck at sewing!
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My kid Nina James. Best damn kid on this planet.
What causes you to lie?
When I'm tired, I like to lie in my bed.
What is your idea of complete happiness?
Being with my Shane and Nina James and having an endless supply of Woolworths strawberries.